Fountain-pen.



' Patented Dec. 11, I900. B. J. SOPER.

FOUNTA|N PEN.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1899.)

2 Shee ts-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

INVENTOR: 17 ZVif I By his Alzomeys.

No. 663,590. Patented Dec. u; I900.

B. J. SUPER.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

(Application filed 1hr. 18, 1899. Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

/ mum FIG. 74. f f; A J a WITNESSES: INVENTOR. $04 7' m /Z -Z7l T Z By My Aim/ways,

w: cams wznzns co mom-undo WASNINGYON, n. c.

Human STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN J. SOPER, OF HOBOKEN, NEYV JERSEY.

FOUNTAIN-BEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,590, dated December 11, 1900.

Application filed March 1 3, 1 8 9 9- T (tZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. SOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fountain-pens, its object being to produce such a pen which will have certain features of improvement over those now in use.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred form of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the nozzle detached. Fig. 4is a vertical section on line 4: 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modification of the top plug detached. Fig. 6 is a top View of the feedingbar. Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 7 is a side View of the feedingbar. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 6 looking to the left. Fig. 9 is a transverse section looking to the right from line 9 9 in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse section looking from the line 10 10, Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a top view of the pen proper. Fig. 12 is a sectional View showing a modified form of feedbar. Fig. 13 is an elevation of said modified feed-bar. Fig. 14 is a plan thereof. Fig. 15 is a section on line 15 15, Fig. 12; and Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16 16, Fig. 12.

In the drawings, A designates the reservoirholder; B, the nozzle; C, the pen proper; D, the top plug, and E the cap.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 11, the reservoirholder A is of the usual cylindrical form and together with the other parts (excepting the pen) is preferably made of hard rubber. Said reservoir is provided near one end with a perforated partition A, formed, preferably, as an internal annular shoulder having an opening a through it. The margin of this opening forms a seat a, being preferably abruptly angular at its seating edge. The holder A beyond the partition A is internally screwthreaded at b, said screw-threaded portion being interrupted a short distance from the partition A, so as to leave a space 0, preferably of greater diameter than said screwthreaded portion. Below the screw-thread b is formed a plain space 6, preferably of greater Serial No. 708,813. (No model.)

diameter than said screw-threaded portion, and in this space is fitted a cork packing- 'ring 6, which surrounds the nozzle B and 5;

serves to prevent leakage around said nozzle.

The nozzle B is hollow for nearly its entire length, is preferably formed with a portion or neck B of reduced diameter, as shown, and is screw-threaded at g to engage the screwthreaded portion Z) of the holder, by means of which the nozzle is secured and adjusted in said holder. The neck or reduced cylindrical portion B is adapted to fit within the packing-ringe of the holderA and terminates in a shoulder d, which bears against the ring 6 when the nozzle is screwed into the holder to its fullest extent. The inner end of the nozzle is formed with a stopper H, which is designed to fit against the seat a of the holder when the nozzle is screwed therein, and thereby close the outlet 61.. The seat a is preferably a sharp corner, against which the tapering face of the stopper H can make an absolutely-tight joint. Thus by screwing in the nozzle when the pen has been used and it is desired to replace the same in the pocket the flow of ink from the reservoir to the pen may be entirely out off. There is thus noliability of anyleakage occurring dur- 8o ing the periods of non-use, and the consequent soiling of the hands or clothes is prevented. I prefer to form these parts as shown; but they may be of any suitable construction, so that an outlet or outlets from the reservoir to the pen are provided, and the nozzle is provided with means for closing said outlet or outlets, so that the passage of ink to the feed-bar may be cut off. When the nozzle is adjusted in the holder for use, 0 as shown in Fig. 2, the space 0 of the holder is left free and in communication with the reservoir through the outlet at. The nozzle is formed with suitable openings, as holes or slots M, near its upper end, said openings communicating with the interior of the nozzle and forming passages for the ink. These openings are preferably peripheral and perpendicular to the axis of the pen, the wall of the stopper H constituting an imperforate I00 wall or shield between them and the reservoir, so that flow to them must be around the wall.

The feed-bar F and plug G are preferably formed in one piece and are adapted to fit in the nozzle B, said plug being preferably so formed as to snugly fit the socket in the nozzle at its innerend. The feed-bar is provided with a longitudinal groove or grooves f, of which there maybe one or more, but preferably two, said grooves being formed on the exterior surface of said bar, being open-sided and extending the full length thereof, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. These grooves are preferably of flaring cross-section, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, and are in communication with the holder A through openings 11 2 space 0, and outlet at and constitute the feeding means of my invention. The plug GIS formed with a slot h, Figs 2 and 7, into which the pen C fits when said plug is in position in the nozzle B, and when the parts are so assembled the feedbar extends along the upper side of the pen, as shown in Fig. 2. Atthe outer end of the feed-bar F and at the bottom of the grooves f I preferably form openings 70, which serve as passages forthe ink to the nibs of the pen 0. These openings are preferably near the slit of the pen, so that when the nibs of the pen separate in use the ink will be sucked or drawn through said openings k. I may, however, with good results form these openings or passages as shown at Fig. 6, in which construction the lower part of the feed-bar is cut off ata point about on the line 9 9, Fig. 6. The feed-bar should be constructed of some what elastic material, so that it may spring with the pen, hard rubber being suitable. It will be seen that by this construction the ink is delivered to the pen at or near the point thereof instead of by feeding along the surface of the pen and that therefore the body of the pen 0 will not become covered with ink; also, that the ink feeds down through the bottoms of the grooves by gravity, while the air passes over the top of the descending ink to the reservoir, so that an undue outflow of ink will fill the grooves, and thus by closing them stop inflow of air, which will automatically check and regulate or govern the feed.

To facilitate the adjustment of the nozzle B, my invention provides for a non-rotative engagement between the cap E and said nozzle, and in Fig. 1 I have shown one form of means for carrying out this feature. In this construction the nozzle B is provided with a projecting pin Z, and the cap E is formed with a slot m for engaging such pin. By this means the cap is used as a key to screw up and unscrew the nozzle, and by its use any danger of soiling the fingers and bending or breaking the pen and feed-bar is avoided.

The top plug D is adapted, as usual, to screw on the top end of the holder A. My invention permits of utilizing this plug for the purpose of filling the reservoir by first screwing up the nozzle B to close against the seat a. If the pen is not in every-day use, requiring refilling at frequent intervals, the ink will thicken or cement between the plug and the holder, frequently resisting all efforts to unscrew it by means of its ordinary knurled flange. Hence I provide the head of said plug D with atransverse notch 19, Figs. 1 and 2, or a hole 19, as shown in the modification Fig. 5, or some equivalent formation, so that a knife, key, pin, or the like may be inserted in said notch or holeand used as a lever to unscrew the plug.

In the modification shown inFigs. 12 to 16 the feed-bar is located along the under side of the pen instead of the upper side, and the groovesff are formed on the under side of said feed-bar and extend the entire length thereof, as shown. The feeding operation in this construction is practically the same as in Figs. 1 to 11that is to say, the ink reaches the grooves ff in the same manner and flows along said grooves out of contact with the pen until it reaches the lower ends thereof, when it is sucked or drawn by the pen to its point. In this construction the openings or passages 70 are preferably similar to those shown in Fig. 6*. The slot 72. is omitted, the pen being held along the upper side of the feed-bar, as shown in Figs. 12 and 15.

What I claim is- 1. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the reservoir-holder and pen, of a feed-bar extending along the pen and having an inkpassage formed as a longitudinal groove on its outer surface, said bar communicating with the reservoir-holder, and so formed as to permit the passage of ink from said groove to the pen-nibs.

2. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the reservoir-holder and pen, of a feed-bar extending along the pen, and having a longitudinal groove on its outer surface, said groove extending beyond the nozzle and communicating with the reservoir-holder and having an opening through it communicating with the tip of the pen whereby the ink is fed only to said pen at its tip.

3. In a fountain-pen, the combination with the reservoir-holder and pen, of a feed-bar extending along the pen, and having longitudinal grooves on its outer surface, said grooves communicating with the reservoir and extending to the pen-nibs, and passages from said grooves to the pen-nibs whereby the ink feeds along said grooves and passages to the nibs of the pen.

at. In a fountain-pen, a reservoir-holder, a nozzle, a plug in said nozzle, a pen held in said nozzle by said plug, said plug having a feed-bar extending along the pen, and said bar having two longitudinal grooves on its exterior surface communicating with the reservoir-holder, and two holes over the point of the pen and opening from said grooves to the pen-nibs.

5. In a fountain-pen, a reservoir-holder having an outlet and a valve-seat formed around said outlet, and being screw-threaded at one end, a nozzle adapted to screw therein, said nozzle having its inner end closed to form a stopper H and having openings 11 for the ing the stopper H and openings 2', a feed-bar passage of ink, and a plug in said nozzle havhaving the grooves f and passages 7c, and a ing longitudinal exterior grooves adapted to I plug G.

conduct the ink flowing through said open- In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed 15 ings to the pen near its point. my name in the presence of two subscribing 6. In a fountain-pen, a holder A, having Witnesses. the outlet 64 and valve-seat a, a nozzle B having the stopper H and openingsz' and a feed- BENJAMIN SOPER' bar F having the grooves f and passages Zc. WVitnesses:

GEORGE H. FRASER, THOMAS F. WALLACE.

'7. In a fountain-pen, a holder A, having I the outlet a and valve-seat a, a nozzle B hav- 

